Kait Fortunato
WTOP Wellness Contributor
WASHINGTON — Halloween is long past, but that doesn’t mean pumpkins need
to fall to
the wayside.
In fact, the big orange fruit stays in season up until the first heavy frosts.
And
that’s good news for eaters, because pumpkins are loaded with nutrients such
as vitamin
A and fiber. Plus, they have more potassium than a banana.
Ready to incorporate pumpkin into your next meal? Here are a few of my
favorite pumpkin
recipes:
Turkey
Pumpkin
Chili
Recipe from Whole Foods
This is a staple in my house every fall, and a fan favorite on football
Sundays. While
you don’t actually taste the pumpkin in this dish, it adds a great richness to
this
hearty chili.
Pumpkin
Smoothie
Recipe from Fannetastic Food
Just because the weather has turned cooler does not mean you have to stop
drinking
smoothies — it’s just time to switch up the recipe. Ingredients such as
banana,
vanilla
almond coconut milk and pumpkin pie spice give this healthy beverage a holiday
twist.
Soft Pumpkin
Cookies
Recipe from All Recipes.com
I made these for a holiday party last year, and they are on my to-do list to
make again
soon. I love the soft and chewy texture of these cookies. They’ll definitely
be a hit
for any seasonal cocktail or dinner party.
Roasted
Pumpkin
Seeds
Recipe from Simply Recipes
Whether you plan on carving another pumpkin or not, make sure you get your
hands on
some pumpkin seeds. These make the perfect, salty and crunchy snack, and
they’re simple
to
prepare. Get creative with your seasonings — some of my favorites include
cinnamon and
paprika.
Pumpkin
Hummus
Recipe from All Recipes.com
I love hummus, but I have to admit, I was not sure about this recipe. So trust
me when
I
say to you that if you love hummus and love pumpkin you will love this recipe.
Try
pairing
this nutritionally-dense dip with graham crackers, fruit or vegetables.
Kait Fortunato is a registered dietitian at Rebecca Bitzer & Associates and
serves on the board for the DC
Metro Area Dietetic Association. Kait focuses on individualizing her
recommendations to have each client see
results and live a healthier, more productive life, and she works to help
people
enjoy food and eat the foods
they love. Kait lives in the D.C. area and loves trying new restaurants and
activities around the city. Visit
Kait’s blog, Rebel Dietitian,
and
tweet her @Rebel_Dietitian for recipes,
nutrition tips and activities in
the Washington area.
Follow @WTOP and @WTOPliving on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
